Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1887-04-08
a TECHNICAL EDUCATION.


same time a very instructive trial that re-
Gently occurred in London and which has
been republished on this side Of the ocean.
A Mr.. William Harris, sausage maker
and dealer, appeared in answer TO . sum-
mons issued by the school board charging
him with neglecting to send his eldest son,
William, TO schosl as many days in the year
as the compulsory educational law required.
The proud father appeared in Court with
his two sons, aged respectively ten and eight
They are represented as being neatly dress
ed in blue suits and with white butchers
smocks. They all answered TO the name Of
William Harris. The head Of the family
explained TO the magistrate that as he car
ried ON very large and prosperous bust.
ness In the manufacture Of sausage and had
fiftesn retail shops he, being the ARCHITECT
of his own fortune" desired 10 perpetuats
his fame and fsrtsne to pssterity. To that
end and In order to avoid accidents he had
given his name to each Of his sons and they
were known TO the business world as vii.
liam, Harris NJ !. = William Harris Ne Q,
and William Harris, No. 8.
William Harris No l then prcoeeded to
give " the Court his idea on the proper
training Of youth. In so dsing he Went on
TO state that he was = firm believer Ia both
general and technical education. He also
practiced what he preached. He sent his
eldest son to public school In the morn.
ing, where be pursued the prescribed course
Of instruction. Being y studious and bright
boy, he kept up with his class and was al.
ready for examinations. In the afternoon
he received theoretical and practical In.
structon In butchering pigs, making the
meat into sausage, taking them To the diff
ferent retail shops and selling them. The
early part Of each morning aud nearly every
evening were devoted to the study of por.
cine science and literature. He bad col.
lected large library Of books devoted to
swine, the proper curing Of their flesh, and
the making Of sausage In these his sen
was taking . systematic course of reading.
On Saturdays he visited farms, stock mar
kets and fairs in order to learn all about the
different breeds OF pigs and the best methsd
OF feeding them. The lad could make an
accurate drawing VI pig of any known
breed. He could writs well. was able to
keep accounts and could swim scrss the
Thames river. and If necessary. could rescue
drowning pig, and could sslve mentally
arithmetical questions ordinarily requir-
ing slate and pencil The boy did the bank
ing business Tor all his establishments and
conducted sausage trade Of his own His
sales were increasing and he had large
balance in bank. which represented the
profits OF business that was carefully con
Quoted. The boy was able 10 take care Of
himself, which was more than could be said Of
most young men who had received uni
versity education.
Notwithstanding the strong points made
In behalf Of the defense, the case was de.
cided against the father, which showed that
the compulsory educational law is rigidly
enforced 10 London. William Harris No.
! was fined for nsglsesiag 10 send William
Harris No. " school the required number
Of times during the year, but the magistrate
remarked in impesisg tbs statutory penalty
that the small fns paid for . very large
amount Of advertising. Il 10 likely that the
trial. or the reports Of 1t. will call the attsn-
tisn OF The sausage eaters 70 the fiftsen shops
owned by DIR. Harris, and probably persons
having charge Of educational systems in
other places will give attention 10 his ideas
about the proper training of bsys
What is good edscatios for boy? Sir
Philip Sidney. il is said, wrote . twelve
page letter In faultless Latia on his tspth
birthday. which was addressed TO Queen
Elizabeth, sad John Stuart Mill read Plato's
philosophy in the original Greek when he
was only eight. But could either Of these
persons have gained living at ten, ss can
William Harris Ne. 2, the young London
sausage dealer? Has not his father better
ideas about education than any Of our pro.
fessisAsl school sapsrintendents? A lad
who can earn his owe living at a legitimate
aud useful occupation when be is only ten
years old is a good boy 10 have in afsmily
He is also nseial member sfsocisty. Being
selfsupporting be Is tax on NO one. He Is
increasing in intelligence vs. be is In wealth,
asd the knowledge be acquires is VI useful
character. II can be converted iato cash,
Or sausage. ana used for his support. His
father fsasa cut that the first object Of life
ID getting living, and informed his son Of
the discovery Ne bss made. and he prohted
Wy the informatiop,
LISA popslar idea attbe pEessat tims that
all education shsuld be confined y schools
The sausage maker, however, thinks that
much valuable Information can be acquired
outof schssl. and be presents COED evidence.
ere think. In support Of bis theory.
DR.. Wells has been elected County Treas.